The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-04-30
APES AS LABORERS.

Mr.. Parks, 4 farmer at Kingston, in
Kentucky, has succeeded in training
seven large apes to work in his he,np-
fields, aud to break aud prepare the
hemp for market. 1t is claimed that
these animals are more rapid, and do
more work than the neg Eoes, and ut
about one>quarter the cost. They were
sent to Mr. Parks from Africa the
present of q brother, where they are
utilized for similar work. He Is so
pleased with them that he has ordered
ten more. How many employers would
be delighted if they could use dumb
animals tor rough work irstead Of hu-
man beings. The ape viii never join
trades-unions, nor become Il Knight Of
Labor. II they could be bred in suiii-
cient numbers, they might be very
useful in hot countrieS. Apes and
monkeys are most intelligent animals,
and there are innumerah.e Instances in
history Of their bein. trained 10 COM
ply with the wishes of their owners.
Nine. Clenence Roger, in q recent art
icie in the Revue Scientitiuue, shows
that monkeys are well adapted for field
as we'll as domestic work. Pyrard the
French traveller of two centuries ago,
says that in his time the coionis:s of
Sierra Leone employed chi'upauzees in
carrying water and heating OF mortars,
and Brenton has, in his Chinese pic
lures, a representation Of monkeys
gathering tea-leaves on the top of one
Of the steep ridges Of Chansung. The
ancient Egyptians, too, obtained cou-
siderable services from the cynocsp-
halus, a variety of baboon. an animal
80 remarkable for its intelligence that
it was selected by them rs the synbo!
of intellect. Button describes female
chi,npauzee at Loaugo which could
makerbe beds, sweep the house, and
help turn the spit, Houzeau expresses
the opinion that these female monkeys
would make excellent nurses for chill
dren, their milk being exceedingly rich
in butter. Buttons black chimpanzee
knew how to unlock door, and if he
did not find the key in the lock, would
hunt for it. This monkey took Its
meals like weli-bred person, ale with
a spoon and fork, used plate. and
served itself with wine. In one OF her
letters from the Malay Peninsula, Miss
Bird describes q dinner to which she
was invited, and at which her COM
panipns were two apes. -sThe apes
trad their curry chutneY, pineapple,
eggs, and bananas on porcelain, and so
had L." writes the enierprisirg lady,
who speaks Of another ape, which WAS
an important member of the family
Of the British Resident at Klapg, rs
walking on its hind legs, and going
along quietly by her side like a human
escort. 1t had not even a rudmentary
tail, and when it sat with lis arms
folded, it looked like a "gentiemaniy
person in close-fitting suit" These
facts open wide field of possibilities.
Africa swarms with large apes, and
under proper climatic conditions, with
good treatment, there is no reason why
this very intelligent animal should not
be made to subserve human uses,-
from Demore$rs monthly for Nay.
This country will rebel when apes
and Chinese are imported in any great
numbers and for the purpose Of revo-
Iutionizing our labor system. But the
above contains some interesting facts
about apes, hence It's publication in
these columns.